Keep your business safe online

byCarole Jordan

•

12 Jun, 2017

•

Some useful advice from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) about cyber security and how to keep your business safe online.

Cyber security advice from the FSB

FSB figures show that a staggering seven million cyber crimes are committed
against smaller businesses in the UK every year - that's 19,000 every day.
These crimes cost small business victims on average nearly £3,000 and generally
take more than two days to recover from.

In light of this, the FSB have asked the experts behind the FSB Cyber Protection Helpline, NCC
Group
, what advice they can offer to small business owners.

​Ashley Newton of the FSB Cyber Helpline has issued the following guidance:

"There is currently a large scale ongoing ransomware campaign impacting businesses of all sizes worldwide (most notably the NHS)."

Home and business users should take the following steps to protect themselves:

Ensure that devices are kept up to date with all available software patches. This includes patches to operating systems (Windows/ Mac OS) and additional software used on the devices (such as Microsoft Office). Devices using outdated operating systems should be upgraded where possible.

Ensure that you're using an updated antivirus or anti-malware product on all desktop and laptop computers and allow it run regular scans of your machines

Maintain multiple frequent backups of all critical files and systems with at least one copy stored off-site or on the internet ('Cloud Backup')

Be suspicious of all emails, links and files received and confirm their legitimacy before taking further action. Ask yourself:

Am I expecting to receive this?

Is the sender, website or file type what I expected?

Can I speak with someone by other means to confirm this is genuine/safe? (phone sender/bank etc)

If legitimacy is not confirmed take no further action and delete the email/file in question.

The advice above should adequately protect users from being a victim of not only ransomware such as 'WannaCry' but from all forms of malware.

Those responsible for enterprise infrastructure and wishing to remediate against this type of attack specifically should follow the National Cyber Security Centre's guide on the topic. Details can be found here
.

Devices running outdated Windows operating systems (Windows XP, Windows 8 or Windows Server 2003) should go to the following link to download and install
a patch specific to 'WannaCry'.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the ransomware and this attack can visit the NCC Group's blog
.

As part of FSB membership, you would have automatic access to FSB Cyber Protection, which gives you:

A Data and Cyber advice line staffed by experts in cyber security

Easy access to online information on a variety of data and cyber security matters

£10,000 cover for third party Data and Cyber Liability claims

The ability to purchase enhanced insurance cover for costs incurred as part of a data or cyber loss

I love the summer for sitting back and reflecting on the
year. Thinking back to the dark days of
winter and forward to the joy of Christmas time. Now is the ideal time to review how your
business is going and as you revive yourself through holidays and sunshine
you’ll be well placed to make any changes come the autumn.